THE North West's Euro MP has branded Manchester Airport's plans for expansion as "lunacy".

THE North West's Euro MP has branded Manchester Airport's plans for expansion as "lunacy".

Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies has slammed the 25-year masterplan, which could see the number of passengers double to 50 million a year by 2030.

He says plans to increase the number of take-offs and landings from 59 to 76 per hour would have a major impact on the environment.

But while he admitted that the growth of cheap flights and creation of 22,000 new jobs would bring benefits to the region and beyond, he said this is difficult to reconcile with Europe's plan to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

He has now called for urgent action to force airline operators to pay towards the CO2 emitted by planes, and even suggested a "ration book" for frequent fliers could help the problem.

He said: "The massive expansion at Manchester Airport is lunacy. I don't want to stop air travel but the increase in airline operations should not continue until the technology to reduce emissions catches up with it. Total carbon dioxide emissions must increase no further. And if everybody had ration book with a limited number of airline tickets each year then it would surely cut down the problem."

Mr Davies, who makes more than 100 flights a year as a Euro MP, was also keen to reduce air travel by MEPs by suggesting a change in the European Parliament's working arrangements.

He said: "We can hardly preach to others about the need to curb the growth in air travel. A simple change to working two weeks in Brussels and one week in our constituencies could cut our air travel by up to a third."

Mr Davies is one of a number of campaigners criticising the airport's plans. Cllr Vanessa Hall, a Green Party councillor on Manchester Council, said: "The idea of sustainable expansion is utter nonsense. The council needs to take action and clip the airport's wings."

Jeff Gazzard, from Manchester Airport Environment Network, said the impact on noise levels, local air quality and climate change would all increase substantially.

But supporters of the masterplan say that if environmental costs can be managed, the benefits of expansion would be too great to turn away.

Prof Callum Thomas, professor of sustainable aviation at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "The airport has the ability to manage its environmental impact and the effects of growth."

Paul Goggins, MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, said: `I welcome Manchester Airport's ambitious plans for expansion - more passengers will bring more jobs and greater prosperity to my constituents. The plan will minimise disruption to local communities and to take active steps to protect the environment."

Airport spokesman John Twigg said: "Environmental considerations are a fundamental part of our business plan and form the core of everything we do. We have committed ourselves to become carbon neutral by 2030, which will be a difficult task but we are determined to achieve this."